Charisma. Many have it, many don’t. Some people are natural extroverts, and others are pensive introverts. Those who are charismatic and outgoing tend to mistakenly believe that they are capable of succeeding in interviews without the preparation and research that their introverted peers may need. College interviews are not an exercise in likability; they are not resume dumps; and they aren’t nearly as bad as everyone makes them out to be.

It was a rather mundane Wednesday morning when I picked up the phone. After the typical greeting to a potential client, the voice assertively explained to me that he was “Mr. Highly Selective University Alum” and was looking for someone to help his daughter, a rising senior, get into his alma mater. I listened attentively, asked many questions, and explained that I work with students very closely to ultimately create a diversified targeted college list, which benefits the students, as it provides them with options characterized by various degrees of selectivity.

I have been blessed with many rewarding academic advising and teaching experiences since coming to the US. Although I only officially learned about “shopping week” during my time as Associate Dean of Academic Advising at Harvard, I embraced this concept on my own as an undergraduate student with tremendous success. During the “shopping” window, students can sample various courses for one or two weeks at the very beginning of each term (depending on the institution’s drop/add period) to determine which courses best fit with their academic interests and learning styles. Furthermore, students can determine how the work for each course can be managed to achieve a balanced life.

I have spent a great deal of my summer advising high school and graduate students, former students of mine, and friends on their decision making. While I enjoy helping others think of the impact a given choice could have in their lives, both short and possibly long term, I have been struck by how difficult it seems to trust oneself and ultimately life (or a higher power) with the notion that things will work out. Thus, I cannot help but wonder, is it so difficult to decide because there are too many options in front of us? Are people too afraid? Or is it simply that all of us have turned into control freaks? Because, for the most part, many of us are going to be presented with alternatives in everyday life, one of the biggest skills we can pass on to future generations is the ability to make decisions.

We all are familiar with the adage that “actions speak louder than words.” In my experience, this has proven true when I am trying to figure out how committed people are to a relationship with me or to their job. However, when it comes to your college essays, your choice of words, the way you narrate your story and engage the reader will trump all the actions or ideas you are describing. As someone who has previously served on various admissions selection committees, I consider both the general and supplemental essays the most powerful tools in your application. They show your introspection; your writing abilities; your potential for inquiry; and your interest in the discovery of new concepts.

I remember sitting in my office at Notre Dame in 2004 when a student invited me to join Facebook. I thought it was a great way to keep connected with anyone who was engaged with my office, which was housed under the division of student services. At the time, Facebook was not public. In 2008, I deleted my account completely by carefully following directions in Wikihow because the posts I read in this forum puzzled me.

The end of the school year is a great opportunity to reflect on everything we have learned about our academic and personal habits throughout the year and to consider the benefits of starting a new academic year with a clean slate. This past year, I taught more incoming first-year students than in the previous year, and I was reminded day in and day out of how little we prepare our students to transition into college. From my point of view, the biggest ROI in an undergraduate education is rooted in helping students succeed academically and socially during the first year, as this allows them to thrive in subsequent years. Thus, I am going to share some thoughts to hopefully assist you to transition smoothly into your new life this fall.

You had been checking your email messages non-stop for the past two weeks, hoping to get the news you had been waiting for since submitting your application: getting into your dream college or program. Your heart was pumping when you received the email or text, and suddenly, you realized that instead of an acceptance, you have been offered a spot on the wait list. Disappointment filters through the air, you are mad and frustrated. After all that work, and you still might have to wait some more? What can you do?

It is that time of the year when we are ready for a break after the first half of the term is underway. Some will head to sunny destinations, others will spend time with family and friends, and others will go on service trips. Regardless of what you do during your time off, it is important to spend some time taking stock of what has worked well during the first seven weeks of your term and what hasn’t.

Thinking about the future can be overwhelming. In my experience the spring is an especially stressful time for students. It seems like everyone is making plans whether that means finding the right college, finding a summer internship, or a finding a job after graduation. It’s normal to feel some anxiety about an unknown future, but you can’t let your worries or uncertainties run your life. The challenge becomes how to shift your “what is my future” stress from a bad place to a good one, so that you can be more excited, less anxious, and above all, able to enjoy the present, which is what you certainly have. Here are three things to keep in mind when making that shift:

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We will post a blog the second Wednesday of each month, except due to unforeseen circumstances, to cover a variety of topics. Please feel free to email us topics you would like to see included in our blog.

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